Aaron S. Shiley, II

Aaron S. Shiley, II, 66, of Lancaster, PA died Thursday, December 9, 2010 at Hospice of Lancaster County – Mt. Joy. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Aaron S., Sr. and Jane Brommer Shiley. He was the husband of Jill Snyder and they had celebrated their 28th anniversary on May 1st. Aaron was a 1962 graduate of J.P. McCaskey High School and Harrisburg Barber School. He proudly served in the United States Navy from 1965-1967 on board the destroyer, S.S. Warrington where he worked as the ship’s barber. He had the opportunity to visit many parts of the world during this time. In 1971 Aaron opened Mug & Brush Barber Shop on W. Lemon Street and later relocated to W. James Street, renaming the business Aaron Studios. A second salon was opened at N. Queen St. in 1985. Once the largest hair and nail salon business in Lancaster County, the staff grew to over 30 people who significantly contributed to the success of Aaron Studios. Aaron has remained a friend and mentor to his former staff members. The salons participated in various downtown and charitable initiatives, and frequently were quoted in news articles regarding fashion trends. The salons were sold in 1995. In 2000, Aaron returned to a simpler “one man operation,” moving his salon to the original Mug & Brush location where he worked until a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2009. Ever mindful of the blessings he had due to the people he met through his profession and the community, he was often quoted as saying, “If I were to have a headstone, it would read, ‘Aaron Shiley, a most fortunate barber.'” Committed to supporting Lancaster City, Aaron was a board member of James Street Improvement District and a member of Campus Community Coalition at Franklin & Marshall College. He aided in the resettlement of refugee families through St. Peter’s United Church of Christ Ministries. Additionally he volunteered at Wharton Elementary School assisting in improving the reading skills of children. Always adventurous, Aaron and Jill loved New York City. They marched in three Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades, twice as clowns. They volunteered on the Intrepid Museum during Military Salute Week in 2000, and in 2009 were on the Times Square Confetti team, fulfilling Aaron’s dream of distributing confetti from a rooftop at midnight. In addition to his wife, Aaron is survived by two sons, Matthew Shiley of Philadelphia and Paul, husband of Leah Byers Shiley of Mechanicsburg, PA; one granddaughter, Drew; three brothers, Richard, husband of Rev. Cathy Shiley, David Shiley; and John, husband of Becky Shiley, all of Lancaster; one niece, Karen, wife of Evan Sandt and two nephews, Keith, married to Gina Shiley and Mikey Shiley. The Kaung Sitt Naing family, met through their refugee resettlement efforts, has become part of their family as well. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited attend a service to celebrate Aaron’s life on Sunday, February 13th, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, corner of Duke and Walnut Sts., Lancaster, PA. The family will greet friends immediately following the service. Private interment will be held at the convenience of the family. If desired, contributions in Aaron’s memory may be sent to Johns Hopkins University, c/o Anne Kennan Engleby, Development Office; Dept. of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, N. Charles St., Suite 444100, Baltimore, MD 21201 or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Avenue Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Arrangements are by Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home; 394-4097. To send an on-line condolence, please visit www.kasnyderfuneralhome.com